Baking and Cooking Vegan with Dates | Palm Bites

Dates have been used as a natural sweetener in kitchens across the Middle East for generations, and they're just as useful in a vegan kitchen today. From syrup and sugar to spreads and whole dates, here's how to use the vegan staples in our pantry range when you're baking, cooking or making breakfast.

Looking for vegan snacks instead? Read our guide to vegan treats that don't feel like a compromise.

100% Date Syrup

Our 100% Date Syrup is pure dates with no added sugars and no preservatives. Use it the same way you'd use maple syrup.

At breakfast: drizzle it over pancakes, waffles or oatmeal.
In smoothies: add a spoonful as a sweetener.
As a dip: dip apple slices straight into it.
With tahini: swirl it into tahini for a sweet, nutty spread. Known as dibs o' rashi, it's a breakfast that has been enjoyed across generations.

It comes in 140g and 280g jars and is made in Canada.

Organic Date Sugar

Organic Date Sugar is made from dates that are cleaned, pitted, dried and finely ground into a powder. It's a clean label sweetener with no added sugars, no artificial colours and no preservatives, and it can be used in place of refined sugar in many recipes.

In baking: use it in muffins, banana bread, cookies and cakes.
On top: sprinkle it over oatmeal, yogurt alternatives or fruit.
In drinks: stir it into coffee, tea or chai.

Tip: date sugar doesn't melt the way white sugar does, so it works best in baked goods, toppings and batters rather than in recipes like caramel.

Dates & Nuts in Tahini

Palm Bites Nut Mix and Dates Tahini jar topped with nuts

Dates & Nuts in Tahini combines velvety tahini with Palestinian Medjool date strips and roasted pistachios, hazelnuts, almonds and cashews. It's vegan, dairy free and gluten free with no added sugar.

As a dip: serve it with fruit, crackers or pita.
As a drizzle: spoon it over oatmeal, toast or roasted sweet potatoes.
As a filling: spread it between layers of a vegan cake or inside crepes.

100% Nut Butters

Our nut butters are simple: the Almond Nut Butter is made with no added oil, fat, salt or sugar, and the 100% Hazelnut and 100% Pistachio Nut Butters are smooth blends of roasted nuts.

In smoothies: blend in a spoonful for a richer, creamier texture.
With breakfast: spread them on toast or pancakes, or stir them into oatmeal.
In baking: use them in cookies, energy balls and brownies.
In savoury dishes: whisk almond butter into a dressing or noodle sauce.

All three come in 140g and 280g jars and are made in Canada.

Whole dates

Palm Bites Organic Tunisian Deglet Noor dates

For generations, dates have been the natural sweetener in homemade cakes and desserts across the Middle East. They're still one of the easiest ways to add sweetness to vegan recipes.

Organic Tunisian Deglet Noor Dates come pitted, which saves time when you're chopping or blending. They're not too sweet and more on the chewy side.
Saudi Arabian Khudri Dates are large and chewy, with no added sugars or preservatives.
Saudi Arabian Ajwa Dates have a meaty, chewy texture with hints of caramel, honey and cinnamon.

Easy idea: long before energy bites became popular, date balls were a staple in many Arab homes. Blend pitted dates with nuts and a pinch of warming spice, roll into balls and keep them in the fridge for an easy snack.